Internet Scams Exposed

SCAM WATCH: Internet & SMS Scams - Phishing - Email Fraud

These emails and text messages are real examples of current scams. Learn to identify them. Please forward any scams you receive to Mark Hutten: mbhutten@yahoo.com. They will be posted on this site withoutyour email address.

What To Do If You Have Been Scammed

Have you lost money due to a scam?

Email: mbhutten@gmail.comwith a description of how the scam worked (i.e., what happened exactly), and we will try to (a) locate the scam artist(s), (b) work with law enforcement to expedite prosecution, and (c) help you get some - or all - of your money back.

Please kindly accept my apology for sending unsolicited mail to you I believe you are a highly respected personality considering the fact that I sourced your profile from a human resource profile database on your country. Though, I do not know to what extent you are familiar with events.

I am Barrister John Williams, a Solicitor. I am the Personal Attorney to Mr.Steve Anderson, who used to work with Siamrak Company Limited. On the 21st of April 2003, his wife and their three children were involved in a car accident along Sukhumvit Express Road.

Unfortunately, they all lost their lives in the event of the accident. Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my client's relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to trace his relatives over the Internet to locate any member of his family but to no avail, hence, I contacted you to assist in repatriating the money left behind by my client in a Finance Company, Particularly, the Finance House where the deceased deposited the US$15 Million (Fifteen Million United States Dollars only).

Consequently, this Finance House issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin to claim the US$15 Million (Fifteen Million United States Dollars only) in their custody within the next ten official working days. Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 4 years now, I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased to claim the fund as the Next of Kin to him so that the fund will be transferred to your account by the Finance House.

Upon receipt of the fund, I will come over to your country to meet with you for the disbursement of the fund and then you and I will share the money in this order: 50% will be for me, 40% will be for you.While 10% is for execution of the fund incase of any expenses you encountered during the process of the fund into your account. I have all the necessary legal documents that can back our claim we will make with the Finance House.

All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us seeing this deal through. I guarantee you that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

If you are interested in this transaction, kindly furnish me with your

26.4.08

ATM INTERNATIONAL CREDIT SETTLEMENTOFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONOFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCYOCEANIC BANK NIGERIA PLC

ATTENTION HONORABLE BENEFICIARY,

THIS IS TO OFFICIALLY INFORM YOU THAT WE HAVE VERIFIED YOUR CONTRACT INHERITANCE FILE AND FOUND OUT THAT WHY YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR PAYMENT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT FULFILLED THE OBLIGATIONS GIVEN TO YOU IN RESPECT OF YOUR CONTRACT/INHERITANCE PAYMENT.

SECONDLY, WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU ARE STILL DEALING WITH THE NONE OFFICIALS IN THE BANK,ALL YOUR ATTEMPT TO SECURE THE RELEASE OF THE FUND TO YOU. WE WISH TO ADVISE YOU THAT SUCH AN ILLEGAL ACT LIKE THIS HAVE TO STOP IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR PAYMENT SINCE WE HAVE DECIDED TO BRING A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEM. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ARRANGED YOUR PAYMENT THROUGH OUR SWIFT CARD PAYMENT CENTER ASIA PACIFIC, THAT IS THE LATEST INSTRUCTION FROM MR. PRESIDENT,UMARUMUSA YAR'ADUA (GCFR) PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OFNIGERIA AND FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE.

THIS CARD CENTER WILL SEND YOU AN ATM CARD WHICH YOU WILL USE TO WITHDRAW YOUR MONEY IN ANY ATM MACHINE IN ANY PART OF THE WORLD,BUT THE MAXIMUM IS ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS PER DAY, SO IF YOU LIKE TO RECIEVE YOUR FUND THIS WAY PLEASE LET US KNOW BY CONTACTING THE CARD PAYMENT CENTER AND ALSO SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO HIM IN ORDER TO PROCEED IMMEDIATELY:

1. FULL NAME2. PHONE AND FAX NUMBER3. ADDRESS WERE YOU WANT THEM TO SENDTHE ATM CARD TO(P.O BOX NOT ACCEPTABLE)4. YOUR AGE AND CURRENT OCCUPATION5. A COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION

THE ATM CARD PAYMENT CENTER HAS BEEN MANDATED TO ISSUE OUT($8,300,000.00) AS PART PAYMENT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 2007. ALSO FOR YOUR INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO STOP ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION WITH ANY OTHER PERSON(S) OR OFFICE(s) TO AVOID ANY HITCHES IN RECEIVING YOUR ATM PAYMENT.

FOR ORAL DISCUSSION, I CAN BE REACHED ON OR EMAIL ME BACK AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR FURTHER DIRECTION AND ALSO UPDATE ME ON ANY DEVELOPMENT FROM THE ABOVE MENTIONED OFFICE.

NOTE THAT BECAUSE OF IMPOSTORS, WE HEREBY ISSUED YOU OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, WHICH IS (ATM-811) SO YOU HAVE TO INDICATE THIS CODE WHEN CONTACTING THE CARD CENTER BY USING IT AS YOUR SUBJECT.

BEST REGARDS,

DR SUNDAY IKECHIEF AUDITOR TO THE PRESIDENTFEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

We are pleased to inform you of the finalannouncement that you are one of ourfirst quarter winners of the UNITEDKINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY,internationalLottery programs. held today the 24thof April,2008.

The selection was made from the list of over21,000 e-mail addresses of individual andcorporate bodies picked by an advancedautomated random computer search from theinternet, no tickets were sold.

After this automated computer ballot, your e-mail address emerged as one of three winnersin the category \"A\" with the followingwinning informations: You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum ofOne million pounds sterling.

We happily announce to you the draw of the Euro-Afro-Sweepstake Lottery international programs held on the February 2007 in Essex United Kingdom. Your e-mail address attached to: B9564 75604545 188 with! Serial number 97560 drew the winning: 05/08/09/26/29/44/, which subsequently won you the lottery in the 2nd category.

You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of GBP:2.800,000.00 (Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Pou nds) in cash credited to file KPC/9080118308/02.

Please note that your lucky winning number falls within our Afro booklet representative office as indicated. In view of this, your GBP2.800,000.00 (Two Million Eighty Hundred Thousand Pounds) would be released to you by OUR PAYING BANK. Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the release of your funds as soon as you contact him. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Web site through computer draws system and extracted from over 10,000,00 companies. This promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential till your claims is processed and your money remitted to you in whatever manner you deem fit to claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some unscrupulous elements. Please be warned. To file for your claim, please contact our correspon ding agent immediately you read this message for quick and urgent release of your fund,

Contact information is as follow: -

Name: Mr. Tim Devline

Tele: +27-783002785

Email: tim-devline@jmail.co.za

Please be informed that all winning must be claimed on or before 20th Of August 2008.

We happily notify you of the draw of the Email Lottery Ballot - WorldGaming Board Sweepstakes program held on 10th March 2008 at our Lotteryoffice complex in Den Haag.

Your email address attached to our Lottery payment order, had the followingdetails:(i) Ticket Nr.: HC 093589; (ii) Lucky Nrs.: 11, 18, 25, 43, 56, 77,89; (iii) Reference Nr.: MST/18436/DZS-NED;(iv) Batch Nr.:KNED-LOTT 519672X5G; which consequently won you this lottery in the 1st category. You havetherefore been approved to claim a total sum of (1,000,000,00 Euros) OneMillion Euro only, in Certified Bank Draft issued in your name, and creditedto your File Reference number as quoted above. This is from a total prize ofFifty Million Euro only, shared amongst the fifty winners in this category.

A total of 500,000 email addresses were entered for the Email LotteryBallot - World Gaming Board Sweepstakes International. All email addressesentered for the game were submitted by our partners; International emailservice providers from over 140 countries that are listed, online and werethereafter randomly selected systematically through our Electronic RandomSelection System (ERSS).

Microsoft Corporation, to encourage some individuals with websites andemail addresses promoted this lottery which takes place at this time, ofevery three years.

The payment authority of your prize - One Million Euro only,in CertifiedBank Draft issued in your name- is already deposited and insured in yourname with our Paying Bank pending your claim and will be issued to effectimmediate payment/swift transfer in the mode you will prefer and nominate,upon satisfactory report on your identity verification and validationrecommendation by our Claims Department - Staats Loterij The Netherlands.Email addresses registered with false names are not eligible to claimingthis prize.

We are proud to inform you that, over 200 million Euros are won annually inmore than 140 countries worldwide, as a result of our promotionalprogrammes.

Due to the mixup of certain names, you are advised to keep your winninginformation confidential until your claim has been processed and your moneypaid to you. All winnings must be claimed as soon as possible. Becuase, allunclaimed funds will be withdrawn.

From The Chairman of Contract Award and Verification Panel Nigeria National Petroleum Coporation(NNPC)

PLOT PC 19 VICTORIA GARDEN CITY(VGC)

LEKKI,LAGOS-NIGERIA.

From:Desk of Dr.Morris Mahan

Tel: +234-8051968743

Email:drmorris_mahan02@hotmail.com

URGENT ATTENTION IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED IN THIS REGARD.

ATTENTION:Sir/Madam

I am Dr. Morris Mahan, Native of Mauritius Presently working with the Nigeria National Petroleum Coporation as the Chairman of Contract Award and Verification Panel set up by the Nigeria National Petroleum Coporation.

I got your contact from the net during my personal search ,after thorough deliberations,my colleagues and I decided to contact you for a very confidential and profitable business transaction of mutual benefit.

During our verification exercise, we came across an over-invoiced contract(Contract No: NNPC/PED/1473/2003).This contract was awarded in

July,2000,and completed in August, 2003, and the original contractor has since been paid his contract sum leaving the over-invoiced sum of US$18.5m(Eigthen Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars) This amount have been left floating in our account with the federation bank, until our recent discovery.

My coleagues and I have decided to seek for the assistance of a reliable foreign partner into whose account the fund will be transferred into for our own use. If this proposal is acceptable to you, a Deed of Transfer of the above contract will be obtained on your behalf, to empower you as the legal beneficiary of the contract and the sum to be transferred. All necessary and relevant documents will be procured for the release and transfer of the fund into your nominated account.

An application for foreign exchange allocation will be made on your behalf from my office to the federal ministry of finance (FMF) and the federation bank for the subsequent release and transfer of the fund into your nominated account.Be informed that we are working in collaboration with top officials of the federal ministry of finance and the federation bank, who will assist us in the transfer of the fund. With your cooperation the success of this transaction is guaranteed.

We have agreed to compensate you with 30%of the total sum, 60% will be for me and my colleagues here, while the remaining 10% have been mapped-out for miscellaneous expenses that might be incurred by both parties during thecourse of this transaction. All things being equal, this transaction will be concluded within 6 working days upon the day of receipt of your response. You are required to email us your nominated bank account details and your direct telephone and fax numbers. Please treat this transaction with top priority and remember to keep it as confidential as possible.

As soon as we receive your response by telephone call or through my email:drmorris_mahan02@hotmail.com more details about how to proceed will be given to you.

21.4.08

THIS MESSAGEMIGHT MEET YOU IN UTMOST SUPRISE, HOWEVER IT'S JUST MY URGENT NEED FOR AFOREIGN PARTNER THAT MADE ME TO CONTACT YOU FOR THIS TRANSACTION. l AM ABANKER BY PROFESSION FROM BURKINA FASO IN WEST AFRICA AND CURRENTLYHOLDING THE POST OF DIRECTOR AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING UNIT OF THEBANK.

I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRANSFERING THE LEFT OVER FUNDS($15.5MILLION US DOLLARS) OF ONE OF MY BANK CLIENTS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HISENTIRE FAMILY ON 31, JULY 2000 IN A PLANE CRASH.

PROVIDE THEFOLLOWING INFORMATIONS:

NAME:__________SURNAME:__________________

SEX: _____ AGE:______MARITAL:_______________

COUNTRY: _______CITY: _________

STATE_______ZIP CODE:_______

CONTACT ADDRESS:________________________

PHONENO#___________FAXNO#_________________

OCCUPATION:______________POSITION:_____________

DATE: ___________

HENCE , I AM INVITING YOU FOR ABUSINESS DEAL WHERE THIS MONEY CAN BE SHARED BETWEEN US IN THE RATION OF60/30 WHILE 10% WILL BE MAPPED OUT FOR EXPENSES. IFYOU AGREE TO MYBUSINESS PROPOSAL. FURTHER DETAIL OF THE TRANSFER WILLBE FORWARDED TOYOU AS SOON AS I RECEIVE YOUR RETURN MAIL AND REPLY TO MEIMMEDIATELY.

17.4.08

We wish to congratulate and inform you on the selection of your email coupon number which was selected among the 6 lucky consolation prizewinners Your email ID identified with coupon No.PBL2348974321.Your e-mail address won the sum of 1,000,000,00 GBP in our monthlydraw of the POWER BALL online lotteryAward.Claims Requirements:full name:Age:Sex:Phone Number:NationalityOccupation:Contact Person: Mr Anderson MooreContact E-mail: info1.powerballlotter@yahoo.com.hkTEL: Tel: +44-704-570-5751

I misplaced your telephone number and decided to inform you through email that I have finally succeeded in transferring the USD$26.3 million with the assistance of my American friend, who based on agreement of 25%for his financial involvement.

I am compensating you with the sum of USD$1,000,000.00 in check, so contact my protocol officer I have instruct him to send the check to you.

We recently have determined that different computers have logged onto your Wachovia account, and multiple password failures were present before the logons. We now need you to re-confirm your account information to us. If this is not completed by April 17, 2008, we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely, as it may have been used for fraudulent purposes. We thank you for your cooperation in this manner. To confirm your Online Banking records click on the following link:

>>> https://onlineservices.wachovia.com/auth/AuthService <<<Thank you for your patience in this matter. Wachovia Customer Service. Please do not reply to this e-mail as this is only a notification. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered. 1999-2008 Wachovia. All rights reserved.

15.4.08

Long ago, I have been waiting for you to contact me for your Certified International bank of $1.750.000 United States Dollars, but to no avail. Having waited for long I contacted the bank where the Draft was issued to enquire if it has expired or getting closer. The Operation Manager of the issuing bank disclosed that the expiring date is almost at hand and the Draft will be ineffective before it gets to your waiting hands.

I advised him to convert the Cheque to fiscal cash, package it on trunk and I saved it with Trans-world Diplomatic Courier Service without letting them know the original contents. This is because I did not want the Draft to loose its value under the umbrella of expiration as I will be out of country for four months course. Base on the Post Graduate course, I will be back to the country on August 2008.

You are advised to contact the Courier Company as soon as possible to know when the delivery will taka place I have paid for the delivering Charge, None Inspection fee and insurance Insurance Premium.The only money you will pay before the delivery will take place is ($175.00 US) One Hundred & Seventy-Five United States Dollars only for Security Keeping. I would have paid that but they said no because they don't know when you will contact them and in case of demurrage. Having reach the Courier Company,

Contact details of the Operation Manager of the Courier Company read thus:

We are pleased to inform you that your e-mailaddress has won the UKNational Lottery. Therefore you have beenapproved for a lump sumpayout of £1,000,000.00GBP) One MillionPounds in the UK NationalLottery program held on 15th April2008, and was released today,The online cyber lotto draws was conductedfrom an exclusive list of21,000 email addresses of individual andcorporate bodies picked byan advanced automated random computersearch known as the EmailSelective System (ess) from the internet, notickets were sold. Afterthis automated computer ballot, your e-mailID emerged as one of thewinners in the 3rd category. You are thereforebeen approve to lumpsum of £1,000,000.00(GBP).

1.4.08

DEAR FRIEND,COMPLIMENTS, I AM WRITING TO SEEK YOUR COOPERATION OVER THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL. FIRST I MUST SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THIS TRANSACTION; THIS IS BY VIRTUE OF ITS NATURE AS BEING UTTERLY CONFIDENTIAL AND TOP SECRET. THOUGH I KNOW THAT A TRANSACTION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL MAKE ANY ONE APPREHENSIVE AND WORRIED, BUT I AM ASSURING YOU THAT ALL WILL BE WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY.

I HAVE DECIDED TO CONTACT YOU DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THIS TRANSACTION, LET ME START BY INTRODUCING MYSELF PROPERLY TO YOU. I AM MR SULEMAN BELLO A MANAGER WITH THE BANK OF AFRICA( BOA), OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA FASO, AFRICA.

I CAME TO KNOW YOU IN MY PRIVATE SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE AND REPUTABLE PERSON TO HANDLE THIS CONFIDENTIAL TRANSACTION, WHICH INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF HUGE SUM OF MONEY TO A FOREIGN ACCOUNT REQUIRING MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.

IN MY DEPARTMENT, WE DISCOVERED AN ABANDONED SUM OF$15MILLION USD(FIFTEEN MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS.)ONLY, IN AN ACCOUNT THAT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS WHO DIED ALONG WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY IN A PLANE CRASH THAT TOOK PLACE IN KENYA, EAST AFRICA, THE BANK NOW EXPECTS A NEXT OF KIN AS BENEFICIARY.

VALUABLE EFFORTS ARE BEING MADE BY THE BANK TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE BRUMLEYS REMAINING FAMILY OR RELATIVES BUT ALL TO NO SUCCESS. THE LATE DR. GEORGE BRUMLEY,A CITIZEN OF ATLANTA,UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS A KNOWN PHILANTROPIST IN,

WEST AFRICA AND THE WHOLE AFRICAN CONTINENT SINCE WE GOT INFORMATION ABOUT HIS DEATH, WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HIS NEXT OF KIN TO COME OVER AND CLAIM HIS MONEY BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE RELEASED UNLESS SOMEBODY APPLIES FOR IT AS NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED AS INDICATED IN OUR BANKING GUIDELINES BUT UNFORTUNATELY ALL HIS SUPPOSED NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION DIED ALONGSIDE WITH HIM AT THE PLANE CRASH LEAVING NOBODY BEHIND FOR THE CLAIM.

IT IS THEREFORE UPON THIS DISCOVERY THAT I NOW DECIDED TO MAKE THIS BUSINESS PROPOSAL TO YOU AND RELEASE THE MONEY TO YOU VIA YOUR FOREIGN BANK ACCOUNT AS THE NEXT OF KIN OR RELATION TO THE DECEASED FOR SAFETY AND SUBSEQUENT DISBURSEMENT SINCE NOBODY IS COMING FOR IT AND IT IS BECAUSE OF THE PERCEIVED POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCATE ANY OF LATE BRUMLEYS S NEXT KIN (HE DIED WITH HIS ENTIRE FAMILY MEMBERS) .

THE BANKING LAW AND GUIDELINE HERE STIPULATES THAT IF SUCH MONEY REMAINED UNCLAIMED AFTER SEVEN YEARS, THE MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED INTO THE BANK TREASURY AS UNCLAIMED FUND THE REQUEST FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND MAXIMUM CO-OPERATION AS A FOREIGN CITIZEN TO STAND AS THE NEXT OF KIN IN THIS BUSINESS IS OCCASIONED BY THE FACT THAT THE DECEASED CUSTOMER WAS A FOREIGNER AND A BURKINABE CANNOT STAND AS NEXT OF KIN TO A FOREIGNER.

THE SHARING OF THE FUND ARE THUS: 30% FOR YOU THE ACCOUNT OWNER,60% FOR I AND MY TRUSTED COLLEAGUES AND THE REMAINING 10% FOR EXPENSES FOR BOTH PARTIES. IF THIS PROPOSAL IS ACCEPTABLE BY YOU, DO NOT MAKE UNDUE ADVANTAGE OF THE TRUST WE HAVE BESTOWED IN YOU.BEST REGARDS,MR SULEMAN BELLO NOTEYOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY .YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY THROUGH MY PRIVATE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SECURITY REASONS AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE THIS LETTER (sulemanbello_bf03@yahoo.fr)NB; PLEASE, VISIT THE WEBSITE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION’S ABOUT THE PLANE CRASH AND THE TRAGIC DEATH OF THE DECEASED AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY, LATE DR.GEORGE BRUMLEY.http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/20/kenya.crash/index.html